Depression

Depression is a common illness that can cause significant pain but many people with depression are untreated. Depression, for a variety of reasons, is an under-diagnosed and under-treated illness.

My Experience Treating Depression

I have treated patients with many types of depression for a number of years and continue to treat patients with depression today. There are a number of therapeutic approaches to depression that have been to shown to be effective in helping patients manage the symptoms of this disease. As an expert in treating depression, I know I can help you or your loved one. Please contact me today via telephone on (617) 932-1548 or email ForPatients@DrDavidBrendel.com.

The vast majority of patients, even those with the most complex or severe cases, can get better with treatment. Research into depression has resulted in the development of new medications, psychotherapies, and other methods to treat depression.

There is an entire community of people, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and therapists, who are devoting their professional lives to helping people suffering from depression. For those of us in the mental health field, the recent breakthroughs, advances, and new treatments are providing excitement and hope.

There are a number of different types of depression, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, post-partum depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Depression can range from mild to moderate to severe. In some cases, depression is accompanied by other conditions such as anxiety and substance abuse. Bipolar disorder (also called bipolar depression and manic depressive illness) is not as common as depression.

Depression is often diagnosed in connection with, and can sometimes be triggered in part by, other medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Depression can also be triggered in part by significant events in a patient's life such as job, marriage or family changes or pressures.

For those of us in the mental health field, the recent breakthroughs, advances and new treatments are providing excitement and hope in diagnosis and treatment of depression.

Depression can cause real pain. Symptoms of depression include persistent sad, anxious, or "empty feelings." Other feelings can include pessimism, guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness. Depression can also cause fatigue and decreased energy, insomnia, and a loss of interest in activities that are pleasurable. Everyone experiences these symptoms occasionally. Doctors diagnose depression when these symptoms are persistent and the patient feels as though he or she is not able to rid himself or herself of these feelings.

Men, women, and adolescents can experience depression differently. Typically men report fatigue, insomnia, and lack of interest in pleasurable activities. Women are more likely to report their symptoms with respect to feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or sadness.

Helping You

Like my colleagues, I became a psychiatrist because I want to help people with depression. We know that depression can cause real pain and suffering. And many patients go untreated for months or years.

Depression is a highly treatable condition. As with many illnesses, the earlier treatment can begin, the more effective it can be. There are many different treatment options today that did not exist 10 or 20 years ago. These advances and breakthroughs provide excitement and hope to those of us treating patients with depression and other mental illnesses.

Where to Start

Because there are so many new options available to patients, I recommend that patients start by meeting a doctor who has experience with a broad range of the different treatments and combinations of treatments. Not every treatment is optimal for every patient. Different types of patients respond better to different types of treatments and combinations of treatments. If you think that you or someone you care about is suffering from depression, please contact me.